Obituaries, Page 15

Compiled by Sue Jones.

These obituaries were copied from the 1888 and 1889 Robinson Constitution newspaper.

Obituary of William KIRK, published in The Robinson Constitution 7 Nov 1888
   William Kirk died Thursday morning, November 1st, at his son's residence, James S. Kirk, two miles and a half northwest of Robinson after a lingering decline from old age. He had almost reached his 81st year, the 3rd of November being his birthday. He could be regarded as one of the pioneers of the county, moving from Ohio and locating here over 40 years ago. He was a man of great moral worth and in his long and useful life exemplified in everything he did a genuine Christian spirit. He was a member of the M.E. church having joined it in early manhood and for over fifty years had been an earnest, active worker and pillar in the church. He has been one of the best of fathers and truest of husbands and with his aged wife, who still survives him, has reared a family in this county of which there are none better and but few equal. Four of his children are living and each have families of their own and all reside in this county. Mrs. Wm. Lowrey living in Licking township and David, James and John Kirk residing near the old home farm in Robinson township. Funeral services were held Friday at 10 o'clock, at his son, James's residence, his remains then being laid to rest in the Kirk graveyard.

Obituary of Rebecca (HILTON) HENDERSON, published in The Robinson Constitution, 5 Dec 1888
   Rebecca Henderson (nee Hilton) wife of Hickman Henderson, died at her home six miles southwest of Robinson, Crawford county, Illinois, November 27th, 1888, of lung fever, aged 61 years, 11 months and 10 days - loved and respected by all. The composedly patient and calm last moments; the tender care by the husband and children, and devotion of neighbors and friends; and the large concourse of people who listened to the last earnest and consoling tones of the minister at the funeral, all signify that Mrs. Henderson had earned that greatest reward - "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of eternal life."

Obituary of Mrs. Marian (REINOEHL) KALEY, published in The Robinson Constitution, 20 Jun 1888
   Mariah Kaley, nee Reinoehl, died March 1st, at her home in New Hebron. She was born Feb. 19th, 1819, near Myerstown, Pa., emigrated with her parents to Wayne Co., Ohio, was united in marriage there to Peter Kaley. They moved to Illinois in 1854 and have lived at New Hebron ever since. There was born to them eight children, seven survive her. She joined the Evangelical Lutheran church in Ohio, but coming to New Hebron she cast her lot among the United Brethern and has lived a consistent christian ever since. All her children, save two, attended the funeral, which was conducted by Rev. A. Griffith.

Obituary of Rev. Harrison SMITH, published in The Robinson Constitution, 15 May 1889
   The Rev. Harrison Smith, of Oblong, died very suddenly last Monday afternoon about 3 o'clock. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were driving home in a buggy from Canaan church, Montgomery township, where he had been holding a meeting over Sunday, and when near the residence of Mr. Robert Wood, east of Oblong, the old gentleman passed away, with no one near him but his wife; just what the cause of his death was the writer is not informed; heart disease, probably, carried him off. Mr. Smith was a man over seventy years of age and a minister in the Baptist church for many years.

Obituary of John HILL, published in The Robinson Constitution, 12 Jun 1889
   John Hill, farmer, stock dealer and merchant, of Crawford county, and one of its most prominent citizens, departed this life on last Wednesday, June 5th, at 2 o'clock pm., at his son Henry's residence in Robinson. He was a native of the Hoosier state, born in Sullivan county November 10th, 1816, thus having lived out more than his allotted three score and ten years, being 72 years, 6 months and 25 days old. He removed with his parents to this county in 1818, where his home has ever since been.
   His career has been tilling the soil, and raising and trading in stock and before he divided up his land among his children, he was one of Crawford county's largest land owners, being the owner of some 2,500 acres, among which was the original 160 acres entered and settled by his father in 1818. To this he added until it comprised 620 acres, and on this he lived until a few years ago, when he removed to Robinson. He was one of the most successful farmers in the county and accumulated a handsome and valuable property by his preserving energy and industry. Upon his removal to Robinson in 1875, he engaged in the grocery business with his son, Chas. M. Hill, and, in this, as in farming, his usual success attended him. He erected a large brick building on the east side of the public square, where he in connection with his son, Chas. M., did an extensive grocery business for several years, when, his health failing, retired leaving his son in charge.
   Mr. Hill was married February 28th, 1838, in this county, to Miss Morris, by whom he had six children, Chas. M., Henry M., Diana Boofter and Mary McLain, living; and Emma Newlin, and Louisa Wolfe, dead. His wife died in 1853, and he was married a second time in 1875, to Mrs. Sterrett of this city.
   His remains were buried in the Newlin grave yard Thursday afternoon.

Obituary of William LISTON, published in The Robinson Constitution, 19 Jun 1889
   William Liston, an old gentleman living some three miles west of Flat Rock, died on last Saturday, after an illness of three days; of Peritonitis, as pronounced by the attending physician, dr. h. F. Jones, of Flat Rock. Sunday morning States Attorney Newlin and Sheriff Jones were summoned by wire from Flat Rock, to repair at once to the residence of the deceased, which they did upon their arrival an inquest was in progress, being held by justices of the Peace, S.R. ford of Honey Creek township, and Wm. Hutchison of Montgomery township. The jury after hearing the evidence returned their verdict which was about as follows, not the exact language, of course, but we give the facts: "We find that William Liston, the deceased, came to his death from blows received at the hands of Geo. W. Goff and other causes." Now as to Goff, on Saturday, April 20th, Liston had received from Goff somewhat of a drubbing, at the school election in the Clark district, we are informed by an eye witness that ... (rest of obituary missing)

Obituary of Mrs. Sattie (HIDDEN) MOERS, published in The Robinson Constitution, 8 Oct 1889
   Died, in this city, Saturday, October 5th, 1889, Mrs. Sattie Moers, wife of Sol Moers and third daughter of Mr. A. R. Hidden. Funeral services were held at the family residence Sunday at 10 am. After which the remains were taken to Cincinnati for interment. Mrs. Moers was ill for several weeks. During her illness every thing was done for her comfort that could be done by a loving and devoted husband and a father's maternal love and sisters' sympathetic hearts and willing hands, but all to no avail. She was a consistent christian lady, a fond and devoted mother and an exemplary wife. She leaves to mourn her loss a husband, three children, an aged father, one brother, three sisters and many near and dear friends.

Obituary of Mrs. Ellen M. THOMPSON, published in The Robinson Constitution, 16 Oct 1889
   Died - Oct. 8th, 1889, at the residence of her son, Dr. J. S. Thompson, in Palestine, Illinois, Mrs. Ellen M. Thompson in the 82nd year of her age. She was the widow of the late Dr. Thomas B. Thompson of Bruceville, Indiana, and her remains were taken to the "Upper Indiana Cemetery," near that place, on Wednesday last, for interment.

Obituary of Henry T. BEAM, published in The Robinson Constitution, 16 Oct 1889
   Henry T. Beam died at his home in Palestine, Wednesday, October 9th, 1889, age 56 years. He was born March 1, 1833, in Pennsylvania, moving to Ohio in his boyhood, and in 1856 to Illinois and shortly after locating in Palestine, Crawford county, where he learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed until a few years ago, when he engaged in the implement business and still later in the grocery business, in which he was engaged at his death. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and has been an elder in the same for the past 13 years. He was a member of the Knights of Honor and was buried by that order. He was an upright, straight forward man in all is dealings with others, a good citizen, an obliging neighbor, a true husband and a kind father. He was married to Amanda Reinoehl in 1857. The father of nine children, five boys and four girls, seven of whom are living and who, with their mother, are left to mourn the loss of a husband and father. The funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church Friday, Oct. 11th, at 10 o'clock am. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. J. A. Bartlett, of Sullivan, Ind. The remains were buried in the Palestine cemetery, a large procession of friends following him to his last resting place.

Obituary of Peter KALEY, published in The Robinson Constitution, 16 Oct 1889
   Peter Kaley died at his home in New Hebron, Thursday, October 10th, 1889, age 77 years, 3 months, and 18 days. He was born at Schaeferstown, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, where he spent his boyhood days, subsequently moving to Wayne county, Ohio, where in 1837 was married to Maria Reinoehl. The result of this union was eight children, five boys and threes girls all living but one boy. He moved with his family to Illinois, October 12th, 1854, locating at New Hebron, in this county, residing there up to his death. He kept the only hotel ever in the little village, and for a quarter of a century he dispensed his hospitality with an unstinted hand, aided by that good wife and best of mothers, in acts of kindness to many a weary traveler who entered their door, and who has preceded him just a little while, to that better land, where their labors will cease, but their works will follow after them.
   He joined the Lutheran church in early life, and upon his settling in New Hebron there being no church of that denomination, he united with the U.B. church.
   The funeral services were held Sunday, October 13th, at 10 o'clock am.

 

This page last updated on March 18, 2022.